FR2704410A1 - Device for locking a filter holder on an express coffee brewing head. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for locking a filter holder on an infusion head (1) of a coffee maker equipped with a locking ramp (2) and adapted to receive the filter holder (3) which for this purpose comprises fixing means (4) to said head (1), so that said filter holder (3) can be engaged in the head (1) and be brought, by a rotational movement, from a free position to a locked position. According to the invention, the locking device comprises means for signaling the passage from the free position to the locked position. The invention applies to express type coffee makers.

Description

DEVICE FOR LOCKING A FILTER HOLDER ON A HEAD

OF EXPRESS COFFEE BREW

  The present invention relates to a device for locking a filter holder on an express-type coffee brewing head equipped with a locking ramp and adapted to receive in a sealed manner the filter holder which comprises for this purpose fixing means to said head, so that said filter holder can be engaged in the head and be brought by a rotational movement from a free position to a locked position. One of the problems generally encountered by the user of coffee makers with such a filter holder is to correctly set up this piece before

operate the coffee maker.

  If the filter holder is not properly locked, the seal between the filter and the infusion head is imperfect and the pressure necessary to obtain a

  express coffee can not be reached.

  On the other hand, when the user sets up the filter holder with too much force he may tire

  prematurely the sealing elements.

  The purpose of the present invention is to allow the user to see the correct placement of the filter holder. According to the invention, the locking device comprises means for signaling the passage of the

  free position at the locked position.

  So the user is informed of the positioning

correct filter holder.

2 2704410

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the following description,

  taken by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the head and the filter holder illustrating a locking device according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a view in linear development and in partial section of a detail of embodiment of the

locking the invention.

  FIG. 3 is a view in linear development and in partial section of a detail of embodiment of a variant

  of the locking device according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the device for locking a filter holder on an express type coffee brewing head 1 equipped with a locking ramp 2 and adapted to receive the filter holder 3 which comprises for this purpose means 4 to said head 1, so that said filter holder 3 can be engaged in the head 1 and be brought, by a rotational movement, a position

free to a locked position.

  The filter holder comprises an envelope 5 surrounding an infusion chamber 6 provided with a filter intended to contain coffee grounds. It also includes a

  handle 7 so as to facilitate its grip.

  The user fills the grinding filter and fixes the filter holder 3 to the brewing head 1 of the coffee maker C by introducing the upper part 8 of the filter holder 3 into the head 1 and by printing on the filter holder 3 a movement rotation by means of the handle 7 so as to lock it. For this purpose the fixing means 4 of the filter holder 3 are constituted by two lugs

  diametrically opposed engaging on the ramp 2.

  According to the invention the locking device comprises means for signaling the passage of the free position to the locked position. With these means the user knows when the filter holder is in the locked position and avoids overly tightening it on

the ramp.

  In a first variant, the signaling means are sound. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sound signaling means comprise a flexible lamella 9 and a boss 10 cooperating with said lamella 9 so as to bend the lamella 9 and relax it sharply when the filter-holder reaches the locked position. The blade 9 then emits a dry noise. When

  reverse rotation is applied to the carrier

  filter so as to detach it from the ramp; the flexible blade 9 is also actuated by the boss 10 and

  emits a new noise indicating the unlocking.

  Preferably, the flexible strip is integral with the filter holder 3 and has a recessed end and a projecting free end, while the boss 10 is

  practiced in the infusion head 1.

  As can also be seen in FIG. 2, during the locking of the filter holder 3, the strip 9 touches the lower part 11 of the infusion head and is actuated

by the boss 10.

  It is obvious that in an equivalent embodiment the flexible blade could be integral with

  the infusion head and the boss on the holder

  filtered. The ramp 2 also comprises a stop 12 against which the lugs of the filter holder 3 come to rest when the user ignores the sound signal. The relative position of the lamella 9 on the filter holder 3 and the boss 10 on the infusion head 1 is such that the

4 2704410

  lamella 9 emits a noise just before the pins

come to a stop.

  Advantageously, the flexible strip 9 is made of polyester. According to more sophisticated versions of the invention, the signaling means comprise a switch 15 cooperating with the filter holder 3 and adapted to control the operation of a device of the type

  electroacoustic or optoelectronic.

  As can be seen in the variant illustrated in Figure 3, the filter holder 3 comprises a small conductive eminence 13 adapted to electrically connect contacts 14 of the switch 15 housed in the ramp 2, when the filter holder 3 reaches the locked position. The contacts 14 are electrically connected to an electronic interface 16 comprising, as the case may be, a generator of a brief tone reproduced by an acoustic membrane 17,

  or else a diode 18 of D.E.L. type, red preferably.

  Whatever the embodiment of the invention, mechanical or electronic, it allows the user to always realize the proper placement and locking of the filter holder and thus gives the coffee maker a particularly convenient use .

Claims (10)

  1. Device for locking a filter holder on an infusion head (1) express type coffee machine equipped with a locking ramp (2) and adapted to receive the filter holder (3) which comprises at this effect of the fastening means (4) to said head (1), so that said filter holder (3) can be engaged in the head (1) and be brought, by a rotational movement, from a free position to a locked position, characterized in that it comprises means for signaling the passage of the free position to the locked position. 2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling means are sound. 3. Locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sound signaling means comprise a flexible blade (9) and a boss (10) cooperating with said blade (9) so as to bend the   (9) and relax it suddenly when the holder   filter (3) reaches the locked position.   4. Locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the flexible strip (9) is integral with the filter holder (3) and the boss (10) is formed in the infusion head (1).   5. Locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that the flexible blade (9) is integral with the infusion head (1) and the boss (10) is practiced on the filter holder (3).   6. Locking device according to one of claims 3 to 5,   characterized in that the flexible lamella (9) is a polyester lamella. 7. Locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the signaling means   comprise a switch (15) cooperating with the holder   filter (3) and adapted to control the operation of a   electroacoustic device (16,17).   8. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling means are visual. Locking device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the signaling means   comprise a switch (15) cooperating with the holder   filter (3) and adapted to control the operation of a   optoelectronic display device (16,18).   10. Locking device according to claim 9, characterized in that the optoelectronic device   comprises a light-emitting diode (18).